Nepal and China $2.4 billion agreements and Hungary makes it illegal to help migrants.
Trump will let immigrant families be detained together
US President Donald Trump Wednesday signed an executive order that ends the separation of illegal immigrants and their children at the border and allows families to stay together, The New York Times reports.
However, “the President’s order does nothing to address the plight of the more than 2,300 children who have already been separated from their parents under the President’s ‘zero tolerance’ policy”, the report adds.
Critics have also raised concerns that Trump has sought to extend the time limit for which children can be held in detention, meaning children and their parents might be subject to indefinite detention, reported the Guardian.
Nepal and China sign eight agreements worth $2.4 billion
There are clear signs that Nepal Prime Minister K.P. Oli’s visit to China could very well be a turning point in shaping the bilateral relationship, reported The Kathmandu Post.
Both leaders are said to have developed a personal rapport over the last two days.
“When Prime Minister Oli visited Beijing the last time, during the Indian border blockade, the Chinese leadership clearly conveyed to us that ‘you are not alone’… This time it (the level of engagement) has gone far deeper,” the report quoted Nepalese foreign minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali as saying.
The two countries signed eight agreements worth $2.4 billion in Beijing during the second day of Oli’s visit, MSN News reported.
The agreements between the two countries pertain to the government as well as the private sector, with Chinese investors set to put in money to develop hydroelectricity, water resources, and fruit cultivation and farming in Nepal, the report added.
Oli is on a five-day visit to China.
China is disappointed with the US for leaving the Human Rights Council
A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said China was “disappointed” with the United States for exiting the United Nations Human Rights Council, reported news agency Xinhua.
“China advocates and commits itself to safeguarding multilateralism, and supports the Human Rights Council and other mechanisms to work together for the promotion and protection of human rights worldwide,” Xinhua reported the spokesperson as saying.
China disappointed about U.S. withdrawal from United Nations Human Rights Council @UNHumanRights https://t.co/OOG3mUmpyN pic.twitter.com/uzWV0pGe4R
— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) June 20, 2018
EU will launch counter-tariffs against the US Friday
“The European Union will launch a raft of retaliatory tariffs against US exports on Friday,” BBC reported.
The American exports the European Union plans on targeting include blue jeans, motorbikes and bourbon whiskey. “Cranberries, orange juice, sweetcorn and peanut butter are among the other goods targeted,” the report added.
“Brussels drew up the list of products in March, when Trump initially proposed the 25 per cent tariffs on steel imports and 10 per cent on aluminium, which also target Canada, Mexico and other close US allies,” the report said.
The US is currently also in the midst of a similar tariff war with China.
Hungary has made it illegal to help immigrants seek asylum
“Hungary’s parliament Wednesday approved a package of bills that criminalises some help given to illegal immigrants, defying the European Union and human rights groups and narrowing the scope for action by non-governmental organisations (NGOs),” reported Reuters.
The bill, known as the ‘Stop Soros’ law, is a direct attack on Hungarian billionaire and philanthropist George Soros, who has been a vocal advocate for refugee rights. Soros is a favourite for conspiracy theories, and Hungary’s ruling party Fidesz won the April elections on an anti-immigration platform that demonised Soros.
Under the law, “individuals or groups who help migrants not entitled to protection to submit requests for asylum or who help illegal migrants gain status to stay in Hungary will be liable to prison terms”.
Prime Minister Viktor Orban has been openly critical of the EU’s migrant policy, and is at the forefront of Europe’s anti-immigrant, right-wing populist bloc.
North Korea and China discuss ‘true peace’
In their high-profile meeting in Beijing, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed “true peace” and denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula.
“The talks proceeded in a comradely, candid and friendly atmosphere,” reported the Korean Central News Agency.
Kim also thanked China for their “positive and sincere” support during the talks between the US and the North Korean leader. Xi, in return, congratulated Kim on the successful summit.
Reuters reported that “Kim and Xi assessed the historic meeting Kim had with US President Donald Trump in Singapore last week and exchanged opinions on ways to resolve the issue of denuclearisation”.
A win for British PM Theresa May in the Brexit battle
“The attempt to secure a ‘meaningful vote’ that could have potentially given MPs the power to stop Britain leaving the EU without a deal was defeated,” the Guardian reported.
The final hurdle for the EU withdrawal bill was passed Wednesday after MPs in the House of Commons voted against the amendment, but only after a last-minute concession.
“Last-ditch horse trading led to the bizarre spectacle of the rebel leader, the former attorney general Dominic Grieve, voting against his own amendment,” he added.